Casiopea (album)

Casiopea is the debut album of Japanese jazz fusion group Casiopea, released on May 25, 1979. Recorded between December 1978 and March 1979 in Japan, it marks Casiopea's first album appearance since their performance on EastWest '77.

Description
The record includes the participation of some notable contemporary jazz players, such as David Sanborn on the saxophone, giving a special touch to Issei Noro's compositions. Tracks like "Black Joke" are part of the multiple performances and variances along Casiopea's career. The album was recorded on LP in 1979 and on CD in 1986, with both releases being the first editions on LP and CD.

The cover depicts two racing cars battling on a circuit, possibly Fuji Speedway's "Hairpin" turn. The cars are late-1970s Group 6 sports prototypes from the Japanese Fuji Grand Champion Series, most likely a Lola T290-Mazda and a March 74S from the 1978 and 1979 championships respectively.

There is an alternate cover, for a slightly earlier pressing and promotional materials that is a picture of the band standing, with pills falling in front of them.

The album is one of Casiopea's most famous, being their most streamed album on Spotify.

Track listing
All tracks were written and arranged by Issei Noro, except for horn arrangements by Jun Fukamachi and string arrangements by Hiroki Inui.

Credits

 * Casiopea
 * Issei Noro – Yamaha SG2000 electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals on "Dream Hill"
 * Minoru Mukaiya – Fender Rhodes piano, acoustic piano, synthesizers, Yamaha Electone electronic organ, vibraphone
 * Tetsuo Sakurai – 1974 Natural Finish Fender Jazz Bass bass guitar
 * Takashi Sasaki – Drums
 * Additional musicians
 * Randy Brecker – trumpet on "Time Limit" and "Black Joke"
 * Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone on "Time Limit," "Tears of the Star" and "Black Joke"
 * David Sanborn – alto saxophone on "Time Limit" and "Black Joke"
 * "Tomato" – strings


 * Production and design
 * Executive producer – Kunihiko Murai, Syoro Kawazoe
 * Producer – Shinji Sawada, Kazusuke Obi
 * Recording engineer – Al Schmitt, Norio Yoshizawa, Yasuhiko Terada
 * Assistant engineer – Mitsuo Koike
 * Recording engineer – Neil Dorfsman


 * Assistant engineer – James Farber
 * Mixing engineer – Yasuhiko Terada
 * Art Direction & Design – ALPHABET (nh ad system)
 * Photographer – Shigeru Wada
 * Illustrator – Toshikuni Okubo
 * Remastering engineer – Kouji Suzuki (2016)